...There were parties from Canada engaged in smuggling through property, chiefly cattle, from the States [during the War of 1812] and it is to be regretted that many of our citizens were then as now found who were anxious to give 'aid and comfort to the enemy.' It was a duty of the officers of the customs to put a stop to this contraband business, and they did so, but not without the loss of several lives.

Hearing that a large drove of cattle was being started through by the smugglers, Samuel Hugh gathered together a number of men and pursued them. Among the number were Ephraim Mahurin, Eleazar Slocum, Wm. McAllister, ----- Cogwell, and several others, all armed. The party did not succeed in overtaking the drove of cattle until they got over the line and had been delivered to the purchasers, who were also in force expecting a conflict. Samuel Hugh was a powerful man, over 6 feet high and weighed over 200 pounds. Two men by the name of Morrill also powerful men attacked him at once, and having knocked one of them down, the other was in teh very act of snapping a loaded gun at Hugh's breast before he could use his own weapon again, when some one from the American party more expert fired his rifle and Morrill fell dead. As several guns were discharged at the same time, it was never known to whom Hugh was indebted for his life.

In th melee, another of the Canadian party was wounded. His name was also Morrill and a brother to the one that was killed. There was a third man by the same name, and was a nephew of the others. It was he who made the attack on Hugh as was mentioned before. He had previously discharged his gun at him loaded with ball and buck-shot. The charge passed through Mr. Hugh's clothing, but it did no injury to his person. But about 4 weeks after the affair, in the dead of night, Samuel Hugh's house was surrounded by an armed party from Canada, together with their friends and sympathizers from the States, amounting to nearly 100 persons. He had just moved into a new house...

Immediately, all the stock and whatever property they could lay their hands on was taken and hurried off. Mr. Hugh himself was placed on a horse with his feet tied under the horse, and armed men walked on each side to guard him... soon as large a party as could be collected to rescue Mr. Hugh, they started in full pursuit. But before they got through the woods they found that they were too far behind to overtake the enemy and returned...